The congratulations from the Headmistress faded into a background hum as the students began to disperse, buzzing with the results of the duels. Henry felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Helia, and the usual calm intensity in her eyes had been replaced by a sharp, pressing urgency.
"Pack your things," she said, her voice low and direct. "A change of clothes, the pendant. We have something to do. Now."
She handed him a small, sealed crystalline vial containing a shimmering, silver liquid. "I need you to deliver this to the castle on the west. If you fail, the princess will die. She has been poisoned, and this is the only cure."
Henry stared at the vial, then at her, his heart sinking. "M-me? But I'm not fast enough. I'm not strong enough. What if I fai-"
"You will not fail," Helia cut him off, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You will not be alone. I will be with you, along with Master Valerius. Now, go."
Stunned into obedience, Henry rushed to his room in the Solstice Tower, grabbed a small satchel with some supplies, and ensured the sunstone pendant was secure around his neck. He followed Helia to the academy's main gate, where Master Valerius was waiting, his stern face etched with impatience.
As they set off, leaving the academy walls behind, Valerius looked at Henry with open skepticism. "Master Helia, I must question the wisdom in this. The boy failed the most basic mana manipulation exercises. Why is he the chosen courier for a mission of this importance?"
"Since you are new to the academy, Master Valerius, we didn't have time to tell you," Helia replied calmly as they walked. "But Henry doesn't have mana."
Valerius stopped in his tracks. "Then what is he doing in a magic school?"
"He is his own font of mana," Helia said, her words simple but heavy. "That is the most basic way of saying it."
A look of dawning horror crossed Valerius's face. His academic arrogance vanished, replaced by a primal fear. "What are you saying? You're implying he is—"
"Yes," Helia cut him off sharply, leaving Henry to wonder what terrifying conclusion the professor had almost voiced.
They walked for hours, the silence thick with unspoken questions. The path wound through forests and over hills, and Henry's legs began to ache.
"Why don't we go by car? Or, by plane, or, you know, magic?" Henry finally asked, breathless.
"A car would make our journey too obvious," Helia explained. "And the others too, powerful teleportation magic leaves a residue that can be tracked. We don't want any unwanted attention on this mission."
Finally, they arrived at a sheer mountain face, where a massive waterfall crashed into a crystal-clear lake below. There was no path forward. "There's no path ahead," Henry said, confused.
Valerius laughed, a short, dry sound. "That's the fun part. Watch." He stepped forward and began to chant, weaving his hands through the air. Complex runes glowed in front of him before shooting forward and striking the waterfall. The cascade of water shimmered, grew transparent, and then parted like a curtain, revealing a hidden passage leading to a breathtaking castle carved into the heart of the mountain.
Henry was flabbergasted. They walked through the watery corridor and into the castle, where they were immediately escorted to the royal chambers. The princess lay pale and still on a large bed, her breathing shallow.
Henry handed the vial to a royal physician, who carefully administered the cure. They all watched with bated breath. Slowly, color returned to the princess's cheeks. Her breathing evened out, and after a moment, her eyes fluttered open. She was saved.